|
Dear Brad:
Hikers get really ticked off about Lyme disease, and no wonder! It's a painful illness that's
spread by tick bites. If you're bitten by an infected tick, you're likely to get a red, bull's-eye
shaped rash that can be followed by fatigue, fever, a sore throat, headaches, swollen joints,
muscle pain, and even death in very rare cases. And talk about a summer bummer--Lyme disease mainly
strikes victims from May to August.
Ticks can really get under your skin in grasslands, wooded areas, seashores, and backyards.
These tiny blood-sucking critters hang out on grasses and shrubs and simply latch onto animals or
hikers passing by. So before you go out, wear light-colored clothing (so you can easily spot the
little hitchhikers), tuck the cuffs of your pants into your socks, and put on insect repellent.
Afterward, carefully inspect your body, especially in hidden and hairy places such as the groin,
armpits, and scalp. If you find a tick, don't panic! Carefully grasp it with a pair of tweezers and
slowly and steadily pull straight back. In some areas, you can send ticks (saved in a sealed
container) to your local health department for disease testing.
But there's good news to report: not all ticks carry Lyme disease, nor does every bite lead to
infection. The disease can be cured with antibiotics, and Lyme disease vaccines are also in the
works. So don't let these puny parasites take a bite out of your summer fun!
Signed,
Wendell
|
